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HOME OF THE YEAR

Home of the Year - Episode 6 Image Name: Home of the Year - Episode 6 Description: Home of the Year Episode 6 RTÉ One Tuesday March 31st Claire Brown Copyright: RTÉ and Shinawil 2020
Home of the Year - Episode 6 Image Name: Home of the Year - Episode 6 Description: Home of the Year Episode 6 RTÉ One Tuesday March 31st Rebekah Miller Copyright: RTÉ and Shinawil 2020
Home of the Year - Episode 6 Image Name: Home of the Year - Episode 6 Description: Home of the Year Episode 6 RTÉ One Tuesday March 31st Rebekah Miller Copyright: RTÉ and Shinawil 2020
Home of the Year - Episode 6 Image Name: Home of the Year - Episode 6 Description: Home of the Year Episode 6 RTÉ One Tuesday March 31st Lee Austin Copyright: RTÉ and Shinawil 2020
Lee Austin HOTY Episode 6 (11) Image Name: Lee Austin HOTY Episode 6 (11) Description: Home of the Year Episode 6 RTÉ One Tuesday March 31st Lee Austin Copyright: RTÉ and Shinawil 2020
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Home of the Year - Episode 6 Image Name: Home of the Year - Episode 6 Description: Home of the Year Episode 6 RTÉ One Tuesday March 3 Copyright: RTÉ and Shinawil 2020

House 1

Rebekah Millar and her husband Eoin live in a new build house that they bought in 2016 in County Armagh. From the outside you would think it’s a little cottage but what awaits you inside is a bright and spacious family home. Rebekah says it’s a great layout for the kids and they love the open spaces. Rebekah has put her own stamp on it with her use of dark colours and mix of textures. She wanted to create a cosy home with a moody feel.

House 2

Photographer Claire Brown and Patrick O’ Donnell had been renting in Dublin for many years when they decided to buy in 2012. They liked the house but it needed a complete interiors revamp. They could see the potential and started renovations as soon as they moved in. They wanted to inject their own style and personality into it as much as possible. Claire wanted to strip it back, keep its originality and then add her personality in layers. They exposed the brick in the hallway they say each room has continued to evolve over the years. A lot of changes over the year have happened because of trends changing and Claire says it will always be a work in progress. A lot of love and attention has gone into every little detail and they feel very lucky to have their home.

House 3

Interior designer Lee Austin and Mark Johnston had been looking for a spacious house in Belfast that Lee could put his own stamp on. As an interior designer Lee works on any properties but his home was by far the biggest challenge he ever worked on. They did a full refurbishment and the only things that remain in parts of the house are the doors and the fireplaces. They reconfigured the layout to suit how they wanted to live in the house. They took the original moulding from the living room and replicated it so they could have the feature throughout the house. They also added bespoke panelling to add more character to the walls. They added on an extension at the back so they would have an open plan kitchen, ling and dining area. They are very proud of what their home and they love to entertain their friends and family. They want their friends and family to enjoy the house as much as they do.

SERIES OVERVIEW:

What makes a House a Home?

Championing creativity, individuality and clever design, Home of the Year features homeowners around Ireland who have done something special to the place they call home.

The hugely popular series Home of the Year is back for a sixth series. Over 8 weeks, 21 homes will compete for the Home of the Year title in 2020, with three very different properties featured each week. From restorations, new builds, renovations and re-design Home of the Year features people who have created their dream home. The series showcases very different homes located all over Ireland and homes in this series include a lighthouse keepers’ cottage, converted buildings such as a former carriage house and a former shop, re-imagined semi-detached homes, architectural homes, DIY homes, restored period homes and new builds.  The judges making the tough decisions are three expert judges; design legend Hugh Wallace, interior designer Deirdre Whelan and architect Peter Crowley. Looking for individuality, functionality and clever design, the judges will individually score each of the homes out of 10, the home with the highest combined score in each programme will go through to the final, where the ultimate winner will be crowned.  Home of the Year is produced by ShinAwiL for RTÉ ONE.

More information on the three judges below:

Hugh Wallace MRIAI, MIDI

Company: http://douglaswallace.com

Hugh Wallace is a well-respected award-winning architect and founding partner of Douglas Wallace Consultants. Hugh has been a judge on the series every year for six years. He loves working on the show and says “this year I was gob smack by the creativity and passion every home owner showed. They just get better and better every year.”  Hugh has a passion for creative design that engages with its audience to create conversation and comment. He believes that good architecture is essential to create social cohesion and enhance our enjoyment of our landscape and living environment whether in the city or country side. He loves homes that create a sense of place, belonging and smile on your face.  Hugh has over 30 years’ experience in the interior design industry, and is world renowned for his insight and knowledge as a leader in design. In 2014 he received a life time achievement for this contribution to the Design Industry in Ireland.Graduating in architecture from Dublin’s Trinity College in 1980, he immediately set up in practice with his then business partner Alan Douglas, a conservation architect. Hugh was past president of Institute of Designers of Ireland and is a member of the R.I.A.I. 

Peter Crowley – MRIAI

Company – https://pacstudio.ie/

Peter Crowley is back for his second series of Home of the Year and he says ‘this year’s journey around Ireland brought myself, Deirdre, and Hugh to a fantastic mix of unique homes, amazing locations, and great creativity.’ He is a founding director of award-winning architectural firm PAC Studio, a design-led practice where environmental considerations are central to making places and spaces that feel good. At PAC Studio Peter is currently working with the team on large social and private housing projects, public and commercial fit-out’s, high-end retail design, and some of the most prestigious domestic projects in the country. Peter believes that the fundamentals of great architecture are quite simple – the best buildings respond to their context and environment first and foremost, and create sustainable, warm, bright, healthy spaces to live, work and relax in. Peter is a Member of the Royal Institute of Architects.

Deirdre Whelan-BA Design Interiors & Furniture

Company: https://www.stwarchitects.com/

Deirdre Whelan is an award-winning interior designer based in Dublin. Deirdre has over 25 years’ experience in the interior design industry in both residential and commercial projects. After 20 years of private practice she is now an associate in one of Dublin’s highly respected architectural practices, Scott Tallon Walker Architects. She and her colleague Raffaella Roncoroni run the Interiors Department in there. Commercial interiors are her forte, and range from hotels such as the Gibson and the Marker, office fit outs for some of the big law firms, healthcare, and occasionally some high end residential. This is Deirdre’s fifth year as a judge on the series.